Terminal block and terminal connector

ABSTRACT

The terminal block has a plurality of paralleling apertures for receiving blades of different types of terminal connectors. One type of connector is U-shaped with two generally parallel spaced apart blades interconnected at their bases. Each of the blades has a locating projection. Another type of connector is of the spade type with two spaced apart co-planar blades connected to a co-planar base portion of the spade type connector. A plurality of notches are formed on one face of the terminal block and each notch is located adjacent to and opens into one of the apertures. A slot extends into the one face of the block between and communicating with at least two adjacent apertures. The projections cooperate and mate with the notches to maintain each blade of a U-shaped connector located centrally of the aperture into which it is received and to prevent movement of the blades against a side wall of the aperture. The slot receives the base portion of the spade type connector with the blades thereof received in the two adjacent apertures.

United States Patent Ege et al. 51 June 13, 1972 [54] TERMINAL BLOCK ANDTERMINAL CONNEC TOR Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion [72] I t H d EDe Pl Walt Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Hafer 01's: 8 5 ames; er Attor-Greist, Lockwood, Greenawalt & De

L. Doctor, Jr., Schaumburg, both of ill. my wey [73] Assignee:Underwriters Safety Device Co., Chicago, [57] ABSTRACT The terminalblock has a plurality of paralleling apertures for [22] Filed: Dec 28,1970 receiving blades of different types of terminal connectors. Onetype of connector 15 U-shaped with two generally parallel [21] Appl. No:101,807 spaced apart blades interconnected at their bases. Each of theblades has a locating projection. Another type of connector is [52] us.Cl. ..339/l98 s, 339/242 Spade type Planar blades [51] Int. Cl. ..H0lr9/00 acted to a 9013mm base Porno of the spade type connec' 58 Field ofSearch ..339/19, 198,242, 256 SP, 258 s, A Plural "aches face minalblock and each notch is located ad acent to and opens 339/154, 159, 248,22 B, 65, 217, 221

into one of the apertures. A slot extends into the one face ofReferences Cited the block between and communicating with at least twoadjacent apertures. The projections cooperate and mate with the UNITEDSTATES PATENTS notches to maintain each blade of a U-shaped connectorlocated centrally of the aperture into which it is received and2,965,872 12/1960 Lmn ..-.339/ 159 prevent movement of the bladesagainst a side n of the 1 l 8 1965 Lakmde "339/176 aperture. The slotreceives the base portion of the spade type 3,456,231 7/1969 Paullus etal. ..339/6O M connector with h blades thereofreceivcd in the twoadjacent Il-3atcheller apertures inn 2,736,873 2/1956 Protz ..339/198 C16 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures Ill I PATENTEDJHW m2 3.670.295 sum 10F 2INVENTURS HAAB RAYMOND E6 E LTER L. DOCTOR J' R.

PKTENTED 1 3 1 2 3. 670, 295 sum 2 or 2 INVENTORS HANS RAYMOND EGEWALTER L. DOCTOR J'R.

TERMINAL BLOCK AND TERMINAL CONNECTOR The present invention relates toimprovements and innovations in terminal blocks and terminal connectorsreceived therein. More particularly, the present invention relates tocooperating terminal block-connector locating means for centrallylocating terminal blades of different types of terminal connectors inapertures in the block.

Terminal blocks having a plurality of apertures extending betweenopposite faces of the terminal block and with terminal blades receivedand held within the apertures are well known, such as for example, fromUS. Pat. No. 2,965,872 which issued to R.I... Linn on Dec. 20, 1960. Inknown terminal block assemblies which include terminal blocks of thetype disclosed in the above mentioned patent, it is common to use eithera spade type multi-blade terminal connector, a U- shaped two-bladeterminal connector or a U-shaped multiblade terminal strip.

The spade type terminal connector includes at least two spaced apartco-planar terminal blades interconnected at their bases by a baseportion of the connector. When the spade type terminal connector isused, one face of the terminal block has at least one slot therein whichextends between and communicates with at least two apertures. This slotreceives the base portion of the connector.

The U-shaped tenninal connector includes two spaced apart terminalblades interconnected by a base portion of the connector. The blades liein respective, generally parallel, spaced apart, planes. When theU-shaped terminal connector is used, the terminal block has a'pluralityof slots in one face thereof, each slot communicating with one aperturein the block and being located centrally of the aperture. The slots andthe apertures are then arranged in pairs, and the pairs of apertures aretypically aligned in one or more rows. The two blades of the U-shapedterminal connector are received in one pair of apertures, and the baseportion of the connector rests against the one face of the terminalblock.

The U-shaped terminal strip includes a plurality of pairs of spacedapart terminal blades extending outwardly from and on either side of agenerally rectangular strip. In effect, the U- shaped terminal strip isa plurality of U-shaped terminal connectors connected together at thebase portions thereof. The terminal block having a plurality of pairs ofslots arranged in a row will accommodate a U-shaped terminal strip.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that a terminal block having aplurality of slots located centrally of the apertures and adapted toreceive U-shaped terminal connectors or terminal strips is not able toreceive spade type terminal connectors. On the other hand, a terminalblock having at least two longer slots in line with and communicatingwith at least two apertures and adapted to receive spade type terminalconnectors is not necessarily able to receive U-shaped terminalconnectors or terminal strips. In this respect, the U-shaped connectorsor terminal strips are often times able to move in the slots laterallyof the apertures. As a result, a side edge of a blade may slide againsta side wall of the aperture. When this occurs, it is difficult, if atall possible, to insert a terminal clip into the aperture and onto theterminal blade.

In view of the inability of presently known terminal blocks toaccommodate different types of terminal connectors it is a primaryobject of the present invention to provide a terminal block which iscapable of receiving and mounting both spade type terminal connectorsand U-shaped terminal connectors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal blockassembly which can accommodate spade type terminal connectors andU-shaped terminal connectors and in which there is provided cooperatingblock-connector locating means for centrally locating the terminalblades of a U-shaped terminal connector within the apertures they arereceived.

Stillanother object of the present invention is to provide a terminalblock with apertures extending between opposite faces of the block withone of the faces having a plurality of notches therein, one each foreach aperture, each notch being in axial alignment with one of theapertures, andto provide a terminal connector having at least two spacedapart blades interconnected at their bases, with the connector having atleast one projection extending laterally of the plane of at least one ofthe blades and adapted to be received in the notch for locating theterminal connector with respect to the terminal block.

The present invention achieves the above objects by providing a terminalblock having a plurality of paralleling apertures extending betweenopposite faces of the block and being aligned in rows to form a latticearrangement of apertures, a plurality of notches in one face of theblock, one each for each aperture, each notch being axially aligned withone of the apertures, and at least one slot in the one face of theterminal block extending between two adjacent apertures in one of therows of apertures.

The present invention achieves other of its objects by providing, incombination, a terminal block and a terminal connector, the terminalconnector including at least two spaced apart blades interconnected attheir bases, the connector being provided with a locating formationprojecting laterally of the plane of at least one of the blades forlocating the connector with respect to the terminal block, the tenninalblock being provided with at least one pair of paralleling aperturescommunicating with opposite faces of the block and notch means on oneface of the block and in alignment with at least one of the aperturesfor engaging the projecting locating formation of the connector tocentrally locate the blades in the apertures.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the presentinvention reference may now be had to the following description of apreferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the terminal block of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of half of the terminal block shown in FIG. 1and taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 and showing aU-shaped terminal connector inserted in the terminal block;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing spade typeterminal connectors inserted in the terminal block instead of theU-shaped terminal connector;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of one U-shaped terminal connector;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the terminal connector shown inFIG. 6 and taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the terminal connector and is taken alongline 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a spade type terminal FIG. 10 is asectional view similar to FIG. 4 and showing a portion of a completeterminal block assembly having a spade type terminal received in theterminal block and held in place by a backplate;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10 and showing U-shapedterminal connectors received in the terminal block instead of the spadetype terminal connector;

FIG. 12 is a prospective view of a U-shaped terminal strip; and

FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10 and showing portions ofconventional U-shaped terminal connectors received in the terminal blockof the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, one embodiment of theterminal block of the present invention is shown at 10 in FIG. 1. Inthis embodiment, the terminal block 10 is generally rectangular and hastwo rows of apertures generally indicated at 11 and 12 with tenapertures in each row. The apertures are identified with the referencenumerals l la-j l2 a-j. It is to be understood, of course, that theterminal block 10 can have a different shape than the rectangular shapeshown in FIG. 1. In this respect, it could be square or L- Y shaped.Also, there can be more or less than ten apertures per row and therecanbe more than two rows of apertures.

The apertures lla-j and l2a-j extend inwardly of the terminal block fromthe top or front face 13 thereof and have a generally oval crosssection. At a point spaced a short distance from the bottom or back face14 of the terminal block 10, the oval shape of each of the aperturesIla-j and 120-] is terminated and the remainder of the apertureextending to the back face 14 of the terminal block 10 is defined by aportion of one of two slots 15 and 16. The slot 15 is in alignment withthe row 11 of apertures 11a-j and the slot 16 is in alignment with therow 12 of apertures l2a-j.

Extending into the terminal block from the back face thereof are aplurality of notches, 17a-j and 18a', one notch for each aperture. Eachof the notches 17a-j and 18a-j is axially aligned with, and opens into,one of the apertures Ila-j and 12a-j. Preferably, and as best shown inFIG. 3, the notches 17a-j and 18a-j extend inwardly into the terminalblock 10 from a recessed portion 19 of the back face 14 of the terminalblock 10. As will be more fully explained hereinafter the recess portion19 is adapted to receive portions of terminal connectors.

Since each of the notches 170-] and 18a-j are identical, only one notch,notch 18b, will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and4. As shown in FIG. 3, the notch 18b is defined by three side walls 21,22 and 23. The side walls 21 and 22 extend laterally of the aperture 18band inwardly from the recessed portionof the back face 14 in a directiongenerally parallel to the aperture 12b. As best shown in FIG. 4, thethird side wall 23 which faces toward the aperture 12b includes aportion 24 which extends parallel to the aperture 18b and a portion 25which is inclined with respect to the portion 24 and extends between theportion 24 and the recessed portion 19 of the back face 14. As will behereinafter more fully explained, each of the notches 17a-j and 18a-j isadapted to receive a projection on a terminal connector for locating ablade of the terminal connector centrally within one of the aperturesIla-j and 12a-j.

As best shown in FIG. 2, adjacent apertures 12a-j are separated byinternal walls 27. As best shown in FIG. 3, a portion of each one of theslots 15 and 16 extends through each one of the side walls 27 and isadapted to receive the base portion of a spade type connector as will behereinafter more fully described.

The terminal block 10 is also formed with two end flanges 31 and 32 eachof which has a bore 33, 34 extending therethrough. Each of the bores 33and 34 is adapted to receive therethrough a fastener for holding aterminal connector retaining means to the back face 14 ofthe terminalblock 10. In FIGS. 10, 11 and 13 the fastener is in the form of aneyelet generally indicated at 35, and the retaining means is in the formof a back plate generally indicated at 37.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 6, 7 and 8, a U-shaped terminal connector madein accordance with the teachings of the present invention is generallyindicated at 40. The U-shaped terminal connector 40 includes twoterminal blades 41 and 42 which are interconnected at their bases by abase portion 43 of the terminal connector 40. The terminal blades 41 and42 are spaced apart and lie in respective parallel spaced planes as bestshown in FIGS. 6 and 8. The free ends 45 and 46 respectively of theblades 41 and 42 are tapered in a conventional manner to facilitate theplacing or fitting of a terminal clip thereover. Also, each blade 41, 42has a hole 47, 48 therethrough which is adapted to mate with a smallbump or protuberance on the clip fitted over the blade to firmly holdthe clip to the blade in a conventional manner.

As best shown in FIG. 4, one U-shaped terminal connector 40 is insertedinto the terminal block 10 with the blades 41 and 42 of the terminalconnector 40 received respectively in the apertures 11b and 12b and withthe base portion 43 of the terminal connector 40 received in therecessed portion 19 in such a way that the base portion 43 of theterminal connector 40 does not protrude beyond the back face 14 of theterminal block 10. As a result the terminal connectors 40 are simply andeasily held in place within the terminal block by a plate such as theback plate 37 as shown in FIG. 1 1.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention each of theblades 41, 42 has a rib 51, 52 formed thereon as best shown in FIGS. 6and 8. As shown, the ribs 51 and 52 extend laterally outwardly from theplane of each blade and inwardly of the U. Stated otherwise, the ribs 51and 52 extend toward each other. When the connector 40 is inserted intothe In the illustrated embodiment, a portion 53, 54 of each of the ribs51, 52 extends from the base portion 43 of the terminal connector 40inwardly of the U and are formed in the terminal connector 40 when theterminal connector 40 is stamped from a metal sheet. It will be readilyappreciated that the notch 18b is formed with the inclined wall portion25 to provide space for the portion 54 of the rib 52. In like manner, aspace is formed in the notch 17b for receiving the portion 53 of the rib51. Although each of the notches 17a-j and 1811- are shown with aninclined wall portion 25, his to be understood that in larger terminalblock assemblies the ribs in the larger terminal connector will not haveportions extending from the base portion of the terminal connector. As aresult the larger terminal block which is adapted to receive the largerterminal connector may not need, or have, an inclined wall portion suchas the wall portion 25. Thus, in one modified embodiment of the terminalblock 10 of the present invention, the third side wall 23 of the notchwill extend between the oval shaped portion of the aperture 12b and therecessed portion 19 of the back face 14 in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the aperture 12b. Of course, it is to be understoodthat the other notches 17a-j and l8a-j also can be formed without theinclined wall portion 25 particularly in larger embodiments of theterminal block 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 9 and 10, it is to be understood that theslots 15 and 16 enable the terminal block 10 to receive and mount spadetype connectors which are of 'the type generally indicated at 60. InFIG. 5, an end view of two spade type terminal connectors 60 is shownand in FIG. 9 a side elevational view of one spade type terminalconnector 60 is shown. The spade type terminal connector 60 has fourcoplanar terminal blades 61-64 which are interconnected at their basesby a base portion 65 of the connector 60. As shown, the blades 61-64 areadapted to be received in adjacent apertures in one of the rows 11 or 12of the apertures Ila-j. When the four blades 61-64 are received in fourof the apertures in a row 11 or 12 of the apertures, the base portion 65of the spade type terminal connector 60 is received in one ofthe slots15 or 16.

As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, each blade 61-64 at the base thereofhas shoulder formations 67 which extend laterally from the side edge ofeach blade and outwardly from the base portion 65. As shown, theshoulders 67 are spaced apart a predetermined distance which is slightlylarger than the width of each internal wall 27. As a result, theshoulders 67 define therebetween a groove which mates with a portion ofone of the internal walls 27. Thus, when the spade type connector 60 isinserted into a slot 15 or 16 in the terminal block 10, such as in theslot 16 as shown in FIG. 10, the shoulders 67 and groove definedtherebetween form a means for centrally locating the blades 61-64 in thefour apertures 12a-d.

Typically, and as shown in FIG. 10, each terminal connector whether itbe a U-shaped terminal connector 40 or a spade type terminal connector60 is held in place within the terminal block by the back plate 37 whichis secured to the back face 14 of the terminal block 10 by the eyelets35. In this way, the terminal blades 41, 42, and 61-64 of the terminalconnectors 40 and 60 are held in position to receive a quickconnectdisconnect terminal clip, such as the clip 70 connected to theend of a shielded wire conductor 72 and fitted over the terminal blade63 in the aperture as shown in FIG. 10.

In FIG. 11 is shown a portion of a terminal block assembly utilizing theterminal block 10 of the present invention and terminal connectors 40 ofthe present invention. In this respect, three blades 42 of threeterminal connectors 40 are shown received in apertures 12a-c and aterminal clip 70 is received in the aperture 12c and fitted over theterminal blade 42 in the aperture 12c. The rib 52 in each of the blades42 is received in one of the notches 18a-c. In this respect, from FIG.11 it will be understood that each of the ribs 52 cooperates with one ofthe notches 18a-c for centrally locating the blade 42 within therespective apertures 12a-c. In this way, the ribs 52 and notches l8a-cform mating and cooperating locating means for centrally locating theblades 42 within the apertures 12a-c and for preventing sliding movementof the terminal connectors 40 in a direction perpendicular to the planeof the U. It will be noted that the recessed portion 19 and the slots 15and 16 are continuous. As a result, the base portion 43 of each of theU-shaped terminal connectors could slide within the recessed portion 19and the blades 41 and 42 could slide within the slots 15 and 16 if suchsliding movement of the terminal connectors 40 was not prevented by thecooperative engagement of the locating ribs 51 and 52 and the notchesl7a-j and l8a-j.

Although the terminal blades shown in FIG. 11 have been described aboveas being individual blades of separate U- shaped terminal connectors 40,it is to be understood that the blades shown can be part of a U-shapedterminal strip of the type generally indicated at 80 in FIG. 12. Theterminal strip 80 has a plurality of pairs of spaced apart terminalblades 81 and 82 which are interconnected at their bases by a strip orbase portion 83. The strip portion 83 extends perpendicular to the planeof the U and interconnects the bases of each pair of blades 81 and 82.Also, the free end of each of the blades 81, 82 is tapered as indicatedat 85, 86 and has a hole 87, 88 therethrough spaced a short distancefrom the free end 85, 86. The holes 87, 88 are similar to the holes 47and 48 in the U- shaped terminal connector 40 and serve the samepurpose. Moreover, in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention each of the blades 81, 82 has a rib 91, 92 formed thereonsimilar to the ribs 51, 52. The ribs 91, 92 are adapted to cooperatewith notches in the apertures, for example, with notches l7a-c and 18a-cin the same manner as the ribs 51 and-52 for the purpose of centrallylocating the blades 81 and 82 within the apertures in which they arereceived and for preventing sliding movement of the U-shaped terminalstrip 80 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the U and withinthe slots 15 and 16 and the recessed portion 19.

FIG. 13 illustrates a problem which can arise of the U- shaped terminalconnectors 40 were of conventional construction without having ribsformed in the blades thereof. In this respect, two conventional U-shapedterminal connectors are indicated at 140. These' terminal connectors 140are able to slide or twist within the terminal block 10. In thisrespect, a blade 142a of one connector 140 is shown with an edge thereofpositioned up against the side 145 of one of the internal walls 27. Thisis possible since the U-shaped terminal connector 140 can slide withinthe slots 15 and 16, the recessed portion 19 and the apertures 11a and12a in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the U. When this occursa terminal clip 70 cannot fit over the blade 142a as shown in FIG. 13,and can only be fitted onto the blade 142a when it is centrally locatedwithin the aperture 120.

With the allowable tolerances for the terminal connectors 140 and theterminal block it is also possible for a blade, such as the blade 142b,of the terminal connector 40 to twist slightly as shown in FIG. 13 suchthat at least the side edge at the upper end 146b of the blade l42brests against a side 147 of one of the internal aperture-separatingwalls 27. Again, as a result of this contact of the upper edge of theterminal blade 142b.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that in terminalblock assemblies including terminal blocks and terminal connectors madeaccording to the teachings of the present invention, sliding or twistingof terminal connectors within the terminal block assembly as shown inFIG. 13 is prevented. Also, and more importantly, with the terminalblock and terminal connectors of the present invention, the

blades of the terminal connectors are centrally located within theapertures in which they are received, and this is accomplished by reasonof the cooperating and mating ribs 51, 52, 91 and 92 and notches l7a-jand 18a-j.

It will also be appreciated from the foregoing description that obviousmodifications can be made to the terminal block and terminal connectorsof the present invention without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, each of the notches can have a U-shapeconforming to the outer periphery of each of the ribs. Accordingly, thescope of the present invention is only to be limited as necessitated bythe accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. In combination, a terminal block and a terminal connector, saidconnector including at least two spaced apart parallel blades which arenot coplanar and are interconnected at their bases by a connectingportion, said connector being provided with first locating meansextending from said connector and projecting away from the plane of atleast one of said blades for locating said connector with respect tosaid block, said terminal block being provided with at least one pair ofparalleling channels communicating with opposite faces of said block,and spaced to receive said blades therein, second locating means on oneface of said block and in alignment with the aperture of at least one ofsaid channels for engaging said first locating means of said connectorto centrally locate said blades in said channels.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second locating means of saidblock is in the form of a notch in said block and in axial alignmentwith one of said channels.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second locating means of saidblock is in the form of a notch which extends into said block from saidone face thereof and opens into one of said channels.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said notch is defined by threesidewalls within said terminal block, two of said sidewalls extendingaway from said one channel and inwardly from said one face of said blockgenerally parallel to said one channel and a third sidewall which facessaid one channel having at least a portion thereof which extendsparallel to the iongitudinal axis of said one channel.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of said thirdsidewall facing said channel is inclined and extends between said oneface of said block and said portion of said remaining sidewall whichfaces said aperture.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the laterally projecting firstlocating means of said terminal connector extends outwardly from one ofsaid blades.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the first locating means of saidterminal connector extends outwardly from at least one of said bladesand from a portion of said connecting portion of said connector.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said block has at least twoadditional channels in said one face of said block, and a slot extendingbetween, and on a line passing through said two additional channels andat least one channel of said pair of channels.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said block includes at least twoadditional channels with a slot extending between said two additionalchannels and a second terminal connector integral with said terminalconnector and having at least two additional parallel non-coplanarblades interconnected at their bases, respective blades in said secondconnector being parallel with respective blades in said terminalconnector, the portion of said second connector interconnecting saidbases of said blades being received in said slot.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said second connector has meansengaging a wall portion of said block located between and separatingsaid two additional channels for locating each of said blades of saidsecond connector centrally within one of said two additional channels.

11. A terminal block assembly comprising, in combination, a terminalblock having a front face, a back face and a plurality of parallelingchannels extending through said terminal block between said faces, saidchannels being aligned in rows to form a lattice arrangement of channelsin said terminal block, a generally U-shaped terminal connector havingtwo spaced apart parallel non-coplanar terminal blades interconnected attheir bases, said blades being received into two aligned channels inadjacent rows of said channels, each of said blades having a ribprojecting away from the plane of said blade for locating said connectorwith respect to said block, said back face of said block having anindividual locating notch associated with each of said channels, each ofsaid notches extending into said terminal block and opening into itsassociated channel for receiving said locating rib on said blade tocentrally locate said blade in said channel, and a retaining meanssecured to said back face of said terminal block for holding saidterminal blades within said two aligned channels.

12. The terminal block assembly of claim 11 wherein said terminal blockhas a slot extending into said terminal block a predetermined distancefrom said back face, said slot being located in the area betweenadjacent channels along said rows of channels, and wherein said assemblyincludes a spade type terminal connector having a base portion and atleast two pairs of terminal blades which are attached to opposite sidesof said base portion, said base portion being received in said slot withsaid blades being received in adjacent apertures in one of said rows ofapertures, and wherein said spade type terminal connector has meansengaging a wall portion of said block located between and separatingsaid adjacent apertures for centrally locating said blades of said spadetype terminal connector in said adjacent apertures.

13. The terminal block assembly of claim 11 including a U- shapedterminal strip having a base portion and at least two pairs of spacedapart generally parallel terminal blades extending substantiallyperpendicularly from opposite sides of said base portion, said terminalblades which extend from one side of said base portion being receivedinto adjacent apertures in the same row of said apertures and saidterminal blades which extend from the other side of said base portionbeing received into adjacent apertures in an adjacent row of saidapertures, each of said terminal blades of said terminal strip having arib formed thereon which is received in one of said notches such thatsaid ribs and said notches define means for maintaining said terminalblades of said terminal strip centrally located within said aperturesand for preventing sliding movement of said U-shaped terminal strip in adirection perpendicular to the plane of the U.

14. In a terminal block assembly of the type including a terminal blockand one or more terminal connectors, the improvement comprising aterminal block which is adapted to receive a spade type terminalconnector, a U-shaped terminal connector and/or a U-shaped terminalstrip having at least a pair of blades with locating means extendingaway from the at least one of the faces of each of said blades, saidterminal block having a plurality of paralleling channels communicatingwith opposite faces of said block, a plurality of notches in one face ofsaid block, one notch for each aperture, each of said notches beingalignment with its associated channel and being adapted to receive andengage said locating means on a terminal connector for centrallylocating a blade of the connector in said associated channel, and saidterminal block having a slot in said one face thereof, said slotextending between at least two of said channels and being adapted toreceive the base portion between the pair of blades which are receivedin said two channels.

15. In combination a terminal block and a terminal connector, saidconnector having at least two spaced apart blades interconnected attheir bases, said connector being provided with means projecting awayfrom the plane of at least one of said blades for locating saidconnector with respect to said block, said terminal block being providedwith at least one pair of parallel apertures communicating with oppositefaces of said block, second locating means on one face of said block andin alignmentwith at least one of said apertures for engaging saidprojecting locating means of said connector to centrally locate saidblades in said apertures, wherein said second locating means of saidblock is in the form of a notch which extends into said block from saidone face thereof and opens into one of said channels, wherein saidnotches defined by three side walls within said terminal block, two ofsaid side walls extending laterally of said one aperture and inwardlyfrom said one face of said block generally parallel to said one apertureand said remaining side wall which faces said one aperture having atleast a portion thereof which extends parallel to the longitudinal axisof said one aperture, wherein at least a portion of said remaining sidewall facing said channel is inclined and extends between said one faceof said block and said portion of said remaining side wall which facessaid aperture.

16. In combination a terminal block and a terminal connector, saidconnector including at least two spaced apart blades interconnected attheir bases, said connector being provided with means projectinglaterally of the plane of at least one of said blades for rotating saidconnector with respect to said block, said terminal block being providedwith at least one pair of parallel apertures communicating with oppositefaces of said block, means on one face of said block and in alignmentwith at least one of said apertures for engaging said projectinglocating means of said connector to centrally locate said blades in saidapertures, wherein the laterally projecting locating means of saidterminal connector extends outwardly from at least one of said bladesand from a portion of the blade-interconnecting portion of saidconnector.

1. In combination, a terminal block and a terminal connector, saidconnector including at least two spaced apart parallel blades which arenot coplanar and are interconnected at their bases by a connectingportion, said connector being provided with first locating meansextending from said connector and projecting away from the plane of atleast one of said blades for locating said connector with respect tosaid block, said terminal block being provided with at least one pair ofparalleling channels communicating with opposite faces of said block,and spaced to receive said blades therein, second locating means on oneface of said block and in alignment with the aperture of at least one ofsaid channels for engaging said first locating means of said connectorto centrally locate said blades in said channels.
 2. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said second locating means of said block is in the formof a notch in said block and in axial alignment with one of saidchannels.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second locatingmeans of said block is in the form of a notch which extends into saidblock from said one face thereof and opens into one of said channels. 4.The combination of claim 3 wherein said notch is defined by threesidewalls within said terminal block, two of said sidewalls extendingaway from said one channel and inwardly from said one face of said blockgenerally parallel to said one channel and a third sidewall which facessaid one channel having at least a portion thereof which extendsparallel to the longitudinal axis of said one channel.
 5. Thecombination of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of said third sidewallfacing said channel is inclined and extends between said one face ofsaid block and said portion of said remaining sidewall which faces saidaperture.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the laterally projectingfirst locating means of said terminal connector extends outwardly fromone of said blades.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the firstlocating means of said terminal connector extends outwardly from atleast one of said blades and from a portion of said connecting portionof said connector.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said block hasat least two additional channels in said one face of said block, and aslot extending between, and on a line passing through said twoadditional channels and at least one channel of said pair of channels.9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said block includes at least twoadditional channels with a slot extending between said two additionalchannels and a second terminal connector integral with said terminalconnector and having at least two additional parallel non-coplanarblades interconnected at their bases, respective blades in said secondconnector being parallel with respective blades in said terminalconnector, the portion of said second connector interconnecting saidbases of said blades being received in said slot.
 10. The combination ofclaim 9 wherein said second connector has means engaging a wall portionof said block located between and separating said two additionalchannels for locating each of said blades of said second connectorcentrally within one of said two additional channels.
 11. A terminalblock assembly comprising, in combination, a terminal block having afront face, a back face and a plurality of paralleling channelsextending through said terminal block between said faces, said channelsbeing aligned in rows to form a lattice arrangement of channels iN saidterminal block, a generally U-shaped terminal connector having twospaced apart parallel non-coplanar terminal blades interconnected attheir bases, said blades being received into two aligned channels inadjacent rows of said channels, each of said blades having a ribprojecting away from the plane of said blade for locating said connectorwith respect to said block, said back face of said block having anindividual locating notch associated with each of said channels, each ofsaid notches extending into said terminal block and opening into itsassociated channel for receiving said locating rib on said blade tocentrally locate said blade in said channel, and a retaining meanssecured to said back face of said terminal block for holding saidterminal blades within said two aligned channels.
 12. The terminal blockassembly of claim 11 wherein said terminal block has a slot extendinginto said terminal block a predetermined distance from said back face,said slot being located in the area between adjacent channels along saidrows of channels, and wherein said assembly includes a spade typeterminal connector having a base portion and at least two pairs ofterminal blades which are attached to opposite sides of said baseportion, said base portion being received in said slot with said bladesbeing received in adjacent apertures in one of said rows of apertures,and wherein said spade type terminal connector has means engaging a wallportion of said block located between and separating said adjacentapertures for centrally locating said blades of said spade type terminalconnector in said adjacent apertures.
 13. The terminal block assembly ofclaim 11 including a U-shaped terminal strip having a base portion andat least two pairs of spaced apart generally parallel terminal bladesextending substantially perpendicularly from opposite sides of said baseportion, said terminal blades which extend from one side of said baseportion being received into adjacent apertures in the same row of saidapertures and said terminal blades which extend from the other side ofsaid base portion being received into adjacent apertures in an adjacentrow of said apertures, each of said terminal blades of said terminalstrip having a rib formed thereon which is received in one of saidnotches such that said ribs and said notches define means formaintaining said terminal blades of said terminal strip centrallylocated within said apertures and for preventing sliding movement ofsaid U-shaped terminal strip in a direction perpendicular to the planeof the U.
 14. In a terminal block assembly of the type including aterminal block and one or more terminal connectors, the improvementcomprising a terminal block which is adapted to receive a spade typeterminal connector, a U-shaped terminal connector and/or a U-shapedterminal strip having at least a pair of blades with locating meansextending away from the at least one of the faces of each of saidblades, said terminal block having a plurality of paralleling channelscommunicating with opposite faces of said block, a plurality of notchesin one face of said block, one notch for each aperture, each of saidnotches being alignment with its associated channel and being adapted toreceive and engage said locating means on a terminal connector forcentrally locating a blade of the connector in said associated channel,and said terminal block having a slot in said one face thereof, saidslot extending between at least two of said channels and being adaptedto receive the base portion between the pair of blades which arereceived in said two channels.
 15. In combination a terminal block and aterminal connector, said connector having at least two spaced apartblades interconnected at their bases, said connector being provided withmeans projecting away from the plane of at least one of said blades forlocating said connector with respect to said block, said terminal blockbeing provided with at least one pair of parallel aperturEscommunicating with opposite faces of said block, second locating meanson one face of said block and in alignmentwith at least one of saidapertures for engaging said projecting locating means of said connectorto centrally locate said blades in said apertures, wherein said secondlocating means of said block is in the form of a notch which extendsinto said block from said one face thereof and opens into one of saidchannels, wherein said notches defined by three side walls within saidterminal block, two of said side walls extending laterally of said oneaperture and inwardly from said one face of said block generallyparallel to said one aperture and said remaining side wall which facessaid one aperture having at least a portion thereof which extendsparallel to the longitudinal axis of said one aperture, wherein at leasta portion of said remaining side wall facing said channel is inclinedand extends between said one face of said block and said portion of saidremaining side wall which faces said aperture.
 16. In combination aterminal block and a terminal connector, said connector including atleast two spaced apart blades interconnected at their bases, saidconnector being provided with means projecting laterally of the plane ofat least one of said blades for rotating said connector with respect tosaid block, said terminal block being provided with at least one pair ofparallel apertures communicating with opposite faces of said block,means on one face of said block and in alignment with at least one ofsaid apertures for engaging said projecting locating means of saidconnector to centrally locate said blades in said apertures, wherein thelaterally projecting locating means of said terminal connector extendsoutwardly from at least one of said blades and from a portion of theblade-interconnecting portion of said connector.